Class Aves Family Bucerotidae | Phylum Chordata Subfamily Bucerotinae | |
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Representative species Northern red‑billed hornbill, Southern red‑billed hornbill, Damara red‑billed hornbill, Western red‑billed hornbill, Tanzanian red‑billed hornbill | ||
Red billed hornbill bird red billed hornbill birds
The red-billed hornbills are a group of hornbills found in savanna and woodland of sub-Saharan Africa. They are now usually split into five species, the northern red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus), western red-billed hornbill (T. kempi), Tanzanian red-billed hornbill (T. ruahae), southern red-billed hornbill (T. rufirostris) and Damara red-billed hornbill (T. damarensis), but some authorities considered them all to be subspecies of a single species.
Contents
- Red billed hornbill bird red billed hornbill birds
- Red billed hornbill call
- Description
- Breeding
- Nesting
- Feeding
- References
Red billed hornbill call
Description
This group of conspicuous birds have mainly whitish underparts and head, grey upperparts, long tails, and a long and curved red bill which lacks a casque. The sexes are similar, but the female has a smaller bill. They are generally large, at 42 centimetres (17 in) long, but the entire group is considered as one of the smaller hornbills.
Breeding
During incubation, the female lays three to six white eggs in a tree hole, which is blocked off with a plaster of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. There is only one narrow aperture, just big enough for the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks. When the chicks and the female are too big for the nest, the mother breaks out and rebuilds the wall. Then both parents feed the chicks.
Nesting
The female red-billed hornbill takes precaution against intruders by building a wall across the opening of their nest. They then seal themselves in and bring up their chicks in a 'prison'.
Feeding
They are omnivorous, taking insects, fruit and seeds. They feed mainly on the ground and will form flocks outside the breeding season.
